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Wednesday, 29 September 2010

One of today's U Stamp with Dawn & Friends Cards with Cool Moves projects was a spiral pop up card. I've never made one of those before so I thought I'd give it a go. I used the Flight of the Butterfly stamp set and my Cottage Wall papers. Quite a fun card to put together but what I really struggled with was getting good photos, especially of the inside! It's very grey, damp and miserable here today so the light is awful and I had to resort to the light tent.

The card measures 12 cms square and is made with SU! Pale Plum CS. I swiped Razzleberry ink around the patterned paper panel before gluing that to the card front. After punching the butterfly I ran an embossing stylus down both sides of the body to pop the wings up. Then I cut a dimensional in half and put one half under each wing - leaving the backing paper on - which means the wings stay popped up. I also stamped a butterfly border on the envelope to match.

This photo shows the inside with the spiral pop up element. Because the two middle butterflies can be seen from above and below, I stamped and cut out two and glued them back to back.

I swiped Old Olive ink around a panel of patterned paper and glued that to the back of the card and this is where I shall write my message.

Tuesday, 28 September 2010

Another diorama card, a Christmas card this time using one of all my time fave snowman stamps. I have this cheery snowman in two sizes, I've used the smaller size here. The diorama card was made with Bashful Blue CS. This card fits in a C6 size envelope.

I stamped a background of snowflakes all over the front and side panels. The apertures were made using Labels Eight Nestie dies and I put snowy stripe patterned paper on the back panel. I stamped the snowman on watercolour paper, coloured him in using SU! markers and a blender pen and I added some sparkle with crystal ultrafine glitter. I stamped the trees in Not Quite Navy ink, stamping off once first and then using the second and third impressions. A couple of crystals either side of the sentiment finished off the card. I love how much depth and dimension there is to these diorama cards when on display, yet they fold flat for posting - ingenious!

Monday, 27 September 2010

One of the projects offered today at the UStamp with Dawn & Friends Cards with Cool Moves online event was a diorama card. I've never made one of these before but I can tell you I'm itching to make another one now! Partly 'cos I'm not 100% happy with it and I want to get it right next time - but also 'cos it's a fun card to put together! I used patterned paper for my middle section but I think that's flimsy so I wish I'd have used CS. Ah well, I know for next time!

I used the Trendy Trees set and a colour combo of Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Melon Mambo and a touch of Kraft. I almost managed an SU! only card but I couldn't resist using my Martha Stewart grass punch!

This photo shows the card from a slightly different angle. The card folds flat so you can just slide it in an envelope and pop it in the post.

Saturday, 25 September 2010

I made this little 4" x 4" square note card after making Jan's owl tent card. I stamped the clouds background and originally intended it to go behind the aperture of the tent card but I ended up using patterned paper instead. I decided to make a card using the stamped clouds panel - yep, I actually decided to make a card with it rather than just tossing the stamped panel in my "I'll keep that to use on a card some day" pile! I'd like to think good habits like this could become a regular feature in my craft room - we'll see! Something I have got better about this year though is finishing off a card completely before putting it in my stash. I used to just decorate the front and that was that and then I ended up with a box full of partly finished cards - it took me AGES to sort those out and complete them and I vowed never again! Now I decorate the envelope, inside the card and stamp my name on the card back before I put it away.

I die cut the leafy branch, stamped the owl and cut him out - he's popped up. I've added yellow gems for his eyes. I used circle punches for the sentiment. Then I punched out some small flowers, added a bit of shaping and popped blue gems in the centres. A nice little cheery note card for a friend I think!

Friday, 24 September 2010

These are the two cards we made at Joanne's S10 Make & Take on Tuesday evening. Happily, these cards were fairly simple and quick to complete which meant we had lots of time to drool over the new SU! catalogue which starts on October 1st! It's such a lovely catty!

The first card uses two new colours - Pear Pizzazz and Cherry Cobbler - a new stamp set called Ornate Flowers and papers from a new pack called Greenhouse Gala. I really love the Pear and Cherry colours, definite must buys for me! We inked the flower using marker pens to get the multicoloured look. A punched border, pretty paper, piercing and ribbon complete this pretty card.

The second card we made uses the new Marina Mist colour - I love this colour too! We used a rectangle reverse mask and sponged on Bashful Blue ink. Then we inked each large snowflake with VersaMark first and then inked with Marina Mist ink. This was so we could sprinkle on Heat & Stick powder and then add Dazzling Diamonds glitter. The clusters of small snowflakes were inked with Platinum Shimmer Paint - you add the paint to the stamp with a sponge dauber. A sentiment in the bottom right corner and this sparkly, wintery Christmas card was finished. Another lovely card design from Joanne!

Thursday, 23 September 2010

Our friends lovely daughter Naomi is bravely setting out on her new life this coming weekend, she's leaving home to go to university. We went over last Sunday for afternoon tea and to say goodbye and wish her well for the future. This is the card I made for her. It is CASEd from this card that I saw and loved on Tobi Crawford's blog.

I changed the orientation, making my card a side opening landscape A6 size card. I stamped the polka dot background and the leafy branch. I fussy cut the branch - oh, that's a fiddly job! - and I've popped it up with 3d foam pads. I added crystals to the leaves. The sentiment words all come from the fabby Elzybells 'Thank you for' set. As well as the 'Thank you for' stamp in the set, there is a 'Wishing you' stamp and then lots of words so you can build an appropriate sentiment. I stamped the words and then cut them out in strips so I could randomly arrange them on the card. I added three crystals to the 'Wishing you laughter' panel to finish off the card.

Wednesday, 22 September 2010

This month the supplies Joanne gave us for the Stamper's Ten challenge were CS in Kraft, Very Vanilla and Not Quite Navy, a piece of Bella Bleu patterned paper, some Vanilla ribbon and the stamped and punched flower with the thanks so much tag. I love these papers and the colour combo so I was very happy. I opted to make a tent card again - my new fave card design! I've signed up for the U Stamp Cards with Cool Moves online event so I shall soon have a brand new fave card design no doubt! The event starts later this week, I'm really looking forward to it.

This card is A6 sized. I used circle Nestie dies to cut the aperture and frame. The leafy branches are die cut shapes. The butterflies are punched shapes and I've popped up the wings and added some gems. I found the big button in my stash and threaded Not Quite Navy CS strips through the holes.

This photo shows the back of the card and the envelope I decorated to match the card.

Monday, 20 September 2010

Today's CAS85 challenge on Splitcoast Stampers was a fall colours challenge - we were to use kraft, red, vanilla and brown - orange was an optional extra. I decided to make an autumnal note card using the Hero Arts Three Designer Leaves stamp set. A very simple card but I love the warm feel this has.

I've made a side opening A6 size card using SU! Kraft CS. I've stamped the images in Really Rust, Ruby Red and Chocolate Chip ink onto Very Vanilla CS panels. These panels are mounted to a Ruby Red panel that I've edged with the EK Success Dotted Wave decorative border punch. I added the sentiment and then found a button in my stash that matched well with the Kraft CS. I threaded some linen thread through the holes and attached the button to a strip of Choc Chip grosgrain ribbon to finish off the card.

Saturday, 18 September 2010

Another tent card but an A6 sized oblong one this time. This card is for my sweet friend Jan to thank her for a gift and her ongoing kindness.

The base is made with Old Olive CS and I used papers from the Sweet Pea stack. The branch and owl are one solid image on the stamp - I stamped once in Old Olive and again in Chocolate Chip. I cut out the Choc Chip owl and have popped him up. As the branch is a bit spindly, I was a tad concerned about it bearing the weight of the owl. So I stamped another branch, cut it out and attached it to the back to add some strength. Circle Nesties were used again to make the aperture and frame. I added some photo corners, Old Olive ribbon and a gorgeous Sweet Pea felt bloom. I used yellow gems for the owl eyes and added pink gems to the corners.

This photo shows the back of the tent card. I used various stamps from the fabby Elzybells 'Thank You For' set for the sentiment element. I love that there are various words in the set that you can put together to build your sentiment. I finished off with an olive felt flower with a pink crystal brad.

Thursday, 16 September 2010

At the Glitter Pot demo weekend Jane Gill demoed cards made with stamp sets she's designed for Woodware. I really loved Jane's bubble bauble and wreath cards, it looked a lot of fun filling all those bubbles! This is the first wreath card I've made, I'm looking forward to some baubles next time!

The card blank is a Woodware white trapezium card. I've used Ice Stickles glitter glue, buttons, gems, holographic and silver glitter stickers plus card candy dots to fill my bubble wreath. You can click on the photo if you'd like to to get a larger view. The sentiment was stamped onto a Cuttlebug slider die cut shape. I've kept with a non traditional Christmas colour scheme, pairing aqua and chocolate brown with the white.

Tuesday, 14 September 2010

This is the card I've made for the Waltzingmouse Stamps WMSC14 sketch challenge. It's a great sketch this week, fab for showing off pretty patterned paper. Here's the sketch:

I flipped the sketch to landscape orientation and omitted the scalloped edge. I'm glad I finally got to ink up the lovely lantern stamps. I bought a set of clear stamps recently that has a line for hanging baubles from - I'm chuffed that it's also perfect for hanging the WMS lanterns from!

The DL sized card is made from SU! Certainly Celery CS. The patterned paper is from the Basic Grey Kioshi line. For the right hand side panel, I stamped the Asian Gardens border stamp on Perfect Plum CS using Elegant Eggplant ink. I've sponged the sentiment and image panels with distress ink. The trio of lanterns are popped up. After I'd put the card together I thought it would be fun to place gems in the centre of each design on the patterned paper - so I did just that and I love the resulting twinkle!

Monday, 13 September 2010

A couple of non stamped seasonal cards using Cuttlebug folders and glitter. The two folders I've used for these cards come from a set of six called Winter Wonderland. I was inspired by cards I saw on display at the Glitter Pot when I visited for their demo weekend last Saturday and Sunday. The sparkle makes all the difference to these simple cards. They're fairly quick to make so good to mass produce and being flat, they'll be nice and easy to post too.

For the Let It Snow card I've made a side opening A6 size card. I've embossed the swirly snowflakes (I LOVE this folder, it's gorgeous!) on Harborside Core'dinations CS and scuffed the embossing. I've then added pale blue glitter. The Let It Snow is a Sizzix Sizzlits die cut shape. I've added an aqua gem to the dot over the i.

For the baubles card, I've made an Elegant Eggplant A6 card and embossed the baubles (another gorgeous folder!) on Wisteria Core'dinations CS and scuffed the embossing. This time I added crystal glitter. The sentiment is a rub on, it's been ages since I've used rub ons and I still have quite a few in my stash! I've added a purple crystal to the central bauble.

Saturday, 11 September 2010

I needed to send out four birthday cards in September as a member of the Birthday RAK group on Splitcoast Stampers. I used two cards from my stash but I also made two new cards - this new card went to okell.

The card is a DL size made with textured white CS. The colour scheme for this card was totally inspired by the piece of patterned paper I chose for the card front. I love this mix of colours together! I used Nesties for the image panels and sentiment circles. I used my marker pens to added teal detailing to the tail and a chocolate eye on the bird. The bird and the teal panel are popped up.

I also sent okell a 6" ruler decorated with the same Sweet Pea patterned paper I used on the card but I didn't take a photo.

Friday, 10 September 2010

This is one of the birthday cards I've sent to a member of the Splitcoast Stampers Birthday RAK group this month. This cupcakes tent topper card went to babybluegirl. Well, technically speaking it isn't really a tent topper card 'cos I made a boo boo when gluing on the scallop circle and now the card opens from the side rather than opening as a tent!

I stamped the image on watercolour paper, scribbled markers on a ceramic tile and picked up the colour with an Aquapainter to colour in the image. I added some sparkle to the icing on the cupcakes with some ultrafine glitter. I've added some Chocolate Chip doodling around the image and the sentiment. The sentiment is framed in a bookplate die cut with small gem brads. The three Choc Chip flowers were punched from the Boho Blossoms punch. I snipped the petals a little deeper and then spiralled an embossing tool in the centre of each flower to give them some dimension. I've popped a crystal in each flower centre.

This photo shows the inside of the card:

This photo shows the 6" ruler I included with the card. I used a piece of Sweet Always paper, the reverse pattern of the dotty paper I used on the card. I got the fabulous idea for the pretty rulers from Monica Gale's blog. She has a video tutorial on this blog post if you want to check it out. I always add one coat of glossy varnish to the paper on the back side of the ruler to make it a tad more durable.

Thursday, 9 September 2010

Today was our card group get together, it's been a while as we had to cancel the August meeting. September means it's time to start Christmas cards! I'm sticking with my non traditional colour combos for this months cards. I've also decorated the insides of the cards to tie the whole design together. Just something simple like some stamping, a piece of matching patterned paper and some punched or die cut shapes can make a big difference and it really doesn't take too long to decorate the inside of the card too.

First up is a trapezium shaped card made to look like a gift. Very simple, cover the entire card front with patterned paper, add some ribbon strips and a tag and the card is done. I debated whether or not to centre the ribbon strips but decided to go off centre but I think either way works. The circle tag is popped up.

This photo shows the inside of the card:

Next up is a card using the tree and various images from the Waltzingmouse Stamps Sewing Box Christmas set. Turquoise Stickles has been added to the baubles and some of the baubles are popped up. The ric rac strips are made with die cut shapes. The sentiment circle and the star are popped up.

This photo shows the inside of the card:

Last up is this lovely blue and chocolate card made with the SU! Dasher reindeer stamp. I've CASEd this design from Monica Gale. I saw the card on her blog, fell in love with it and made one straight away. I thought it would make a great card for my card group to make.

I used a piece of torn CS as a mask at the bottom of the Whisper White piece and sponged Bashful Blue ink above the mask. Monica used a brayer to apply her ink, either way works really well. I used the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to stamp the trees on either side of Dasher and on the card front because I wanted the trees to look fairly seamless but I bet it also looks fine if you're not so persnickety! I'll let my ladies decide if they want to use the SAMJ or not. Dasher stamped a tad blotchy in places so I went over him lightly with a Chocolate Chip marker.

I've applied some ultrafine glitter to add some sparkle to the snow line. The star brad is fixed around the centre of the bow and was attached to the panel before being applied to the card front so the brad prongs don't show through the card front.

Wednesday, 8 September 2010

his is the card I've made for the Waltzingmouse Stamps WMSC13 challenge. Here's the sketch:

I love square cards and I loved that the sketch incorporated different shapes, I really enjoyed this fab sketch. I've gone with quite an unusual colour combo - I'm hoping I've stayed the right side of unusual and not veered into weird LOL! I'm thinking I'll use this as a Christmas card or maybe a winter note card or an after Christmas thank you card.

The card measures 5 3/4" square and was made with SU! Perfect Plum CS. I've paper pieced the snowflake from the WMS Sewing Box Christmas set and added a gem brad to the centre. I've added square gems to the Eggplant square. This square and the snowflake are both popped up.

The 'let it snow' are die cut shapes, I've added a gem brad as the dot above the i. I cut out the 'snow' in white CS that I'd adhered to a piece of double sided adhesive sheet. You can't tell from the photo but I peeled off the backing sheet from the word and smooshed it into ultrafine glitter to add some seasonal sparkle.

Tuesday, 7 September 2010

Monday's CAS challenge on Splitcoast Stampers was a sketch based on a card made by resqbarbie. I've not made a card where I've cut apart the image into tiles before so I thought I'd give it a go. I decided to make a Christmas card to go to the Craft For Life campaign to support Cancer Research UK. I've made a few Christmas cards this year and I'm currently enjoying non traditional colour schemes - not much red and green so far!

The card is A6 sized and made with SU! Kraft CS. I stamped the lovely retro snowman image on Vanilla CS in Pearlescent Chocolate ink. The snowflake and the sentiment are both stamped in Cosmic Copper ink. You really can't tell from the photo but there's a nice subtle shimmer to the card. I added a copper brad to the snowflake centre and the circle is popped up.

About Me

Hello, I'm Ruth Muzeen and I live with my hubby Owen and our cat Tingha in Burgess Hill, West Sussex.
Thanks for visiting to look at my creations, please click on a card photo in any blog post to get a larger view. I have categorised albums of my cards available to view on Google Photos. Just click on the category name to go to the relevant album. Please do leave any comments you have, it will be so nice to hear from you! For more info, please see the About Me - Extended tab up at the top.